No confidence in Tlokwe speaker: DA

Tlokwe - The DA has tabled a motion of no confidence in the speaker of the Tlokwe (Potchefstroom) municipality, in the North West, the party said on Thursday.

“The speaker has shown political bias in council meetings and has not shown the will to maintain order according to the rules,” Democratic Alliance MP Juanita Terblanche said in a statement.

“At a recent council meeting, swearing and shouting matches between the warring factions of the ANC were not brought to order. International guests... were present and the council was brought into severe disrepute.”

She said the motion of no confidence in Barei Segotso would be discussed at the next council meeting on February 26.

“The DA have made major strides in improving governance in Tlokwe in the short time that we’ve been in office,” she said.

“We will not be deterred in our task of delivery for all the people of Tlokwe. We call on council to support the DA’s motion against the speaker.”

DA councillor Annette Combrink was voted in as mayor of Tlokwe in November last year after a motion of no confidence in the ANC mayor Maphetle Maphetle was passed.

She became the first DA mayor in the province after she defeated ANC candidate Lucky Tsagae by 20 votes to 19.

The North West ANC said on Tuesday it will call for a motion of no confidence in Combrink.

“Maphetle will be reinstated the same way that he was removed, through a motion of no confidence in the present mayor,” spokesman Kenny Morolong said.

He said the ANC had initially hoped Combrink's appointment could be declared invalid, as she had accepted her nomination via sms.

“The PEC (provincial executive committee) is content with the strides made through this meeting, which in our view will culminate in the restoration of confidence of the people of Tlokwe in the ANC,” said Morolong. - Sapa